Challenge - File and session

PHP course · Intermediate · Lesson 112/115

Build a simple notebook app with file read/write and sessions.

Challenge - File and session

In this challenge you'll build a simple notebook app. The saveNote(string $note): void function writes a note to a file; readNotes(): string returns the file's full contents. The logged-in user's name lives in the $_SESSION superglobal.

You write with file_put_contents and read with file_get_contents. The FILE_APPEND flag appends each new note; without it every write overwrites the file. session_start must run before any output.

file_put_contents and file_get_contents

file_put_contents takes three arguments: the file path, the text to write, and an optional flag. With FILE_APPEND it appends; without the flag it resets the file. End each note with a newline to keep them apart.

file_get_contents returns the whole file as one string. If the file is missing it returns false; using ?: "" gives a safe empty-string default. The session_start call belongs at the top of the page.

Exercise Write saveNote and readNotes functions

First call session_start(). Define saveNote(string $note): void that writes the note with file_put_contents("notes.txt", $note . "\n"). Define readNotes(): string that reads the file with file_get_contents("notes.txt") ?: "". Then assign $_SESSION["user"] = "Alex", call saveNote("Meeting note"), and run echo $_SESSION["user"] . ": " . readNotes().

Show example solution

Call session_start() first; define both functions; set $_SESSION["user"] and echo it.
Example solution:
<?php
// Write saveNote and readNotes functions
session_start();

function saveNote(string $note): void {
    file_put_contents("notes.txt", $note . "\n");
}

function readNotes(): string {
    return file_get_contents("notes.txt") ?: "";
}

$_SESSION["user"] = "Alex";
saveNote("Meeting note");
echo $_SESSION["user"] . ": " . readNotes();

Test yourself

When should session_start() be called?
- Before any output
- At the very end of the page
- After every echo
- Only on errors
Show answer

Before any output — Correct. session_start() runs before any output; the session cookie is sent as an HTTP header.

Add the FILE_APPEND flag

file_put_contents("notes.txt", $note . "\n", ____);

Show answer

file_put_contents("notes.txt", $note . "\n", FILE_APPEND);

Match each function to its job

file_put_contents

writes to file
file_get_contents

reads from file
session_start

starts session
$_SESSION

holds session data

Challenge - File and session